Chapter Three - Forgiving Memories
Aly ran, the dust of the street turning into small clouds as tears ran down her face. She hadn't dared cry in front of that woman.
The nerve of it, coming back into her life after so many years, just thinking that Aly will make her part of her life again. She knew nothing about Aly, didn't know what she'd been through. Aly grew up without a mother, and could keep living that way.
Aly didn't know where she was going, didn't think about it, just let her feet carry her. She reached the end of the street and looked. She remembered where she was, even though she had not been down this street in eleven years. She walked over to an abandoned house as she breathed heavily, catching her breath.
She walked through the dusty hallway, her eyes running over all the debris of rotting wood and moth eaten sheets. She passed a doorway, with nothing but debris in the room.
She came to another doorway, half covered by a sheet, still moth eaten as she remembered. She used one hand to lift the sheet as she went under. She stopped at the doorway as she dropped the sheet behind her. She glanced over the room, the broken tables and chairs, the small window still with glass. She then looked under the widow, a small cleared spot with a candlestick, used so many times the wax had moulded it to the floor.
She gave a half smile of remembrance, and slowly stepped over the broken furniture to the little spot. She sat beside the candle with her back against the wall. She scratched at the candle wax, remembering the times she had burnt herself on a hot flame burning there.
Things had changed so much since then. She had moved to another town, made new friends, fallen... she shook her head. What did that matter, her father had died and she had started a new life.
She had worked on her new life, made a new name for herself. That name involved her being orphan, just as she thought she was. Until ten minutes ago, she sighed.
'Things happen so quickly,' she thought. 'What would...' she shook her head hard. 'No I can't think of him now, that's part of my old life. Just like my mother.'
The glazed look that had entered her eyes when she thought about her old life, left when she remembered the events of the night. Her eyes filled with anger, she had finally settled into her life, she had a new family. She rarely remembered the past, then her mother waltzes in and ruins the hard work.
Aly went stiff as she heard a quiet padding of footsteps up the abandoned hallway. She picked up a half rotted plank of would, if someone came in here she would... what would she do?
She stared at the curtain covering the door, the corner lifted higher than the little drafts would make it. Aly lifted the plank above her head, not thinking to stand up.
Cleo's head popped up under the curtain. "Row," she said questioningly cocking her head.
Aly smiled at her cat and sighed. "Ye startled me," she said putting down the plank of wood. Cleo padded over to Aly and looked up at her knowingly. Aly moved her legs and Cleo jumped onto her lap. "What do I do Cleo?" Aly asked seriously.
Cleo gave what looked like a shrug and nuzzled Aly's hand, Aly took the hint and held Cleo close for comfort. "Roww gerow meh hii" to most people it just sounded like cat noises, but to Aly she had said 'You'll figure it out'.
They had been together so long, and knew each other perfectly. "Maybe I can avoid her until the gypsies leave town." Aly said.
Cleo shook her head, and meowed 'She'll be looking for you now she knows what you look like'.
"I could leave town early and wait for the gypsies," Aly said thinking.
'What and not perform? You will feel bad if you don't.' Aly sighed at Cleo's meows.
"You're right." She said hopelessly tears welling up in her eyes.
'As much as we try we can't run forever' If she hadn't been making cat noises Cleo would have seemed like a very wise person, and at only sixteen years. But by cat years she was 112, so old, Aly wondered how long her old friend would be by her side.
Aly nodded, "I just need to think about it". Cleo nodded, and curled up on her lap. Aly absently stroked her as she stared out the window with a sigh. She let her mind wander, the tears fell freely down her face, she had not let herself cry in so long.
Aly woke to the sound of whispering outside the doorway, just behind the curtain. She was disorientated, where was she? It was so dark.
She looked at her lap, Cleo stared up at her. Suddenly Aly remembered what happened.
Then the whispering stopped and the curtain lifted, giving Aly no time to act on her revelation. Reg's head came inside the door before the rest of him. His eyes quickly passed over everything in the room and then he spotted Aly. He gave a smile and walked over to her. He knew she'd be in their old hideout, they had brought Lil and Jo here a couple of times but really it was just theirs.
He came and sat beside her just like they had all those years ago, making jokes and talking. Why had things changed so? This was where they would sit when Aly comforted Reg when he had problems at home, because of his lack of a father. Or when he had comforted Aly because of her lack of a mother.
They had so much in common, now her mum was back. They sat in silence for a bit, he went through his thoughts, trying to decide where to start. He had always dreamed of meeting his father. Aly had wanted to find her mother, but that was before her father died. Maybe she didn't dream of that anymore. That didn't change the fact that her mother wanted to be with her.
"She out there isn't she?" Aly said, breaking into his thoughts. He nodded, still not sure what to say. Aly sighed, she would have to make a decision now, she still didn't know what to do.
They sat in silence a little longer. Finally Reg spoke, "Wqb vaqbuo sljk akc z hazrhk." She looked at him with surprise, she had forgotten they had made a secret language. But as soon as she remembered she decoded it quickly to hear 'You should give her a chance'.
"Yaw aqbuo L?" She said, which meant 'why should I?'. "Vck vizwko qxi qm ew ulmk zuu ialv ilek... vbookjuw vck'v fzhp, zro vck kgtkhiv ek iq nbvi veluk zro mqcski vck yzvr'i akck." ('She stayed out of my life all this time... suddenly she's back, and expects me to just smile and forget she wasn't there'.) She looked at Reg, letting the anger in her eyes dig into him, while trying not to cry.
He looked at her, they may not have seen each other in five years but he still knew her well. He gave a half smile and put his arm around her shoulder. "Yakr yk ykck uliiuk yk fqia yzriko iq mlro qbc uqvi tzckriv." ('When we were young we both wanted to find our lost parents') Aly went to argue and he cut her off saying, "uqqp, vak ezw azjk z sqqo ckzvqr." He put up his hand to stop her from cutting in. "Nbvi sljk akc z hazrhk." ('look, she may have a good reason.' 'Just give her a chance'.)
Aly looked like she was about to argue, but then she sighed. "Fine," Reg smiled.
"I'll go get 'er" he said hopping to his feet and running out the door.
She heard mumbling outside, then the curtain lifted again and her mother walked in.
Maria looked like she was going to cry when she saw her long lost daughter. "I thought I would never see you again." She said to Aly. Aly stared up at her. Maria frowned, "I suppose you want an explanation." Aly nodded, Maria came and sat down next to her. Aly shuffled over. "Well, it's a long story..." she started.
"It's been a long childhood," Aly said, "a long motherless one."
Maria hid the hurt look in her eye quickly, "well how much do you already know about the day I went missing?"
Aly shrugged, "just that ye went out to do the laundry. Ye took off this and left it home." She pointed at the hair clip at her belt. "An' that they found the washing spread out by the stream where ye would wash our clothes. They thought maybe ye had been kidnapped, but looks like ye weren't."
"I was. They had me for years..." Maria's eyes took on a glassy, far away look. "I kept to the hope that you and your father were alive... I had these to remind me of you both." She pulled out a small sock that would have barely fit on Aly's hand now, in fact it wouldn't have, and a red kerchief that must have belonged to her father, it even had a 'F' embroidered in it. "I finally escaped, I came back here in hope that your father and you were still here. But all that was left was the house and a ghost story... I chose the name 'Helen Freedman' for ironies sake 'hell am a freed man'." She gave a little chuckle. "I understand that you had a rough childhood because I wasn't here, I am truly sorry. I wish I could have seen you grow up to be the beautiful young woman that you are now."
Maria looked at Aly as she processed the information she had wished and waited for her whole life. Aly sucked her teeth as she thought. "I need time to think," she said finally. Maria nodded as she wiped her eyes with the red kerchief. Aly got up to leave.
A thought occurred to Maria, she grabbed Aly's skirt quickly. Aly looked down at her mother. "What happened to your father?" She asked hopefully.
Aly's eyes filled with tears, "He's dead..." She said slowly, trying to pick better words. "The house burned down, three years ago. He went with it... I have been making a new life since."
Maria's hand slipped off Aly's skirt as the news hit her. A tear fell down Aly's cheek before Aly turned and left. She could hear Maria sob as she went through the doorway, Reg tried to stop her, but he let her go when he saw her tears. Aly walked out of the abandoned house.
"Aly!" Seb said as Aly walked out the front door.
She looked at him her eyes filled with tears, "I'll be back in the morning... I just need to think."
This time Seb didn't argue, he nodded and gave her a hug before watching her go.
Reg came outside, arms around the teary Mrs Pachonté, and stood beside Seb.
The three of them watched Aly leave. "Ah... well... I'll 'ead back ta camp." Said Seb rubbing the back of his head. "If she don't turn up tomorrow I'll come by 'er house." He said nodding at Maria.
Reg nodded, and shook Seb's hand. "I'll stay there too." Seb nodded and headed in the direction of camp. Disappearing into the forest. Reg turned down the street, the way Aly had gone, supporting Maria. "Don't worry, she's in town for another week."
Maria nodded, "I can't believe my Husband is dead..." She said tears falling down her face. "Letti is all I have left... I hope she forgives me."
"Fabrizio will be thoroughly missed," he said solemnly. "Come'n let's get ya home. She can look af'er herself." Maria nodded and let Reg lead her home.
Aly sat beside the fire she had just made. Quickly dwelling on how much she had learnt since she had last been in Gruber. How to build a fire for one, and how to fend for herself for another. But now her mother was back, was she just supposed to put all of it behind her. 'Ma will probably want me to stop travelling.' Travelling had grown on her, she didn't want to stop now. Plus it would be too upsetting to stay here, or Owlron and she was a wanted criminal in Whenherp.
She sighed, she did feel better knowing the truth though. But the fact that she had been a prisoner all those years, it was a rather confusing fact. Why would someone want to keep a prisoner and why kidnap someone at random. She sighed, a little confused, and rubbed her temple. She forgot she had drank so much, 'may as well get a little more sleep.'
Aly rolled over, covering herself with her cape. As she drifted to sleep she decided on forgiving her mother. What a night it had been, she needed a good sleep.
Aly woke a little dazed, the morning was grey with the light of dawn. She could already hear the sounds of the town starting its daily routine. Aly stretched a little then was hit by a throbbing in her head.
"Forgot about that," she said putting a hand to her head. She stood up and shook out her dress then pulled a little vile out of her dress pocket. She looked at it angrily, 'well if Im going to get drunk I need to drink it.' She told herself angrily. She unstopped it and stared at the greenish mixture inside. She closed her eyes and quickly downed the shot, it was no more than a teaspoon full. But yet it still tasted so gross, she gagged at the flavour then put the empty vile back in her pouch. She kicked the evidence of her small camp out and headed back to town.
It was easy enough, the gypsies had already started their entertaining antics and tom foolery. As she headed to town she remembered her promise to Seb.
"Eagh..." she growled, frustrated. She spun on her heel and found her way back to the gypsy camp.
As she walked into camp a few of the gypsies gave her disgusted looks. Others waved to her or gave a smile as she passed, she returned the gestures. As her head had now cleared up she had a smile on her face, though her mother's news last night was just as confusing.
She passed George, who tossed two apples at her, she caught both. "He's still in bed," George told her.
"Lazy as always." Aly said back, grinning. This made George laugh, she bit into one of the apples and walked to the caravan she was meant to sleep in the night before. She walked up the three wooden stairs and leaned on the doorframe eating her apple and looking at Seb in the top bunk.
He had one arm hanging out of the bunk, his blanket had stopped covering his foot and his mouth was half open. He let out a loud snore and she rolled her eyes before taking another bite of her apple.
She had the last few bites of her apple and through the core out the door, where no one would walk. She stepped beside the bunk and flipped the blanket off Seb before stepping back.
Seb groaned and rolled over, hitting the floor with a loud bang. Aly put the blanket on the bunk and looked down at him with an evil grin.
He looked up at her and groaned. "Why do ya do that?" He said with a moan.
"Why didn' ye tell the others I was with ol' friends?" She inquired evilly.
"Ah... shite," He said letting his head fall, hitting it on the floor accidentally. "I forgot," he admitted, rubbing his head.
"I know ya did." She said, amused. She offered a hand, which he took, and helped him to his feet. She tossed him the second apple, he caught it, threw it up behind his back and caught it before putting it in his mouth.
Aly rolled her eyes and went to her lock up chest, she put the empty vile inside and put a new one in her pouch.
"Ya mean to get drunk again ta'nigh'?" Seb asked raising a brow as he put on his boots.
"Nah, bu' it's good ta 'ave just in case." She said with a shrug. She locked the chest and put the key back in her pouch. She followed Seb out of the caravan and got in step with him.
"So did you make a decision?" He inquired.
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm gonna forgive 'er. But I think I'll keep travelling, even if she wants me to stay."
Seb nodded, "Ye are always welcome among us. But only a'cause you earn so much." He said jokingly, she elbowed him the stomach softly as he put his arm around the shoulders.
He flinched and laughed as she smiled. "Scut," she muttered.
As they walked through camp, and eating on Seb's part, Connia stepped onto their path. "Where might ye 'ave been all night?" She asked Aly.
Aly and Seb stopped, Aly gave a showmen's bow, twirling her arms extravagantly. "Well Seb 'ere forgot to mention last night that I were spendin' time with some ol' mates o' mine." She said to the leader of their Gypsy clan.
"Really?" Connia said raising her eyebrows, unable to hide her surprise. "I did no' know ye knew people 'ere."
"Aye, was a little secret o' mine." By now most the camp were listening to this discussion. Aly continued despite this, either way they would have all found out, gossip travels quickly among those who travel in groups. "See this be where I grew up for the larger part o' my life."
The whispers started, not very many, but they did. Then Seb cut in, "I was meant ta tell ya's but it slipped my mind in last night's events."
"An' what big events happened last night?" Connia asked.
"He met my friends is all." She said quickly, Seb nodded. Connia accepted this excuse.
"Well I s'pose ye will be spending more time out a camp then." Connia stated.
"Yeah maybe." She said, as Connia walked away. The gypsies turned back to what they had been doing and Aly poked Seb in the side. "I don't want 'em knowin' i 'ave family 'ere."
Seb rubbed the spot she had poked, "Why not?"
"A'cause it's easier that way, less questions." She said.
"So what really happened last night?" George said behind them, making them jump. Aly looked up at him and sighed. "I know Seb went to visit ye at the healers where ye were staying."
"Was gonna stay," she said putting a hand up. "Seb came just in time to see me run out of the house." Seb nodded as George look puzzled. Aly sighed, "ye want the whole story don't ye?" Both of them nodded, she sighed, they had saved her life, it was the least that she owed. "Come on," she said leading them away from camp.
They walked into the forest a bit, far enough that no one would be around. They wandered into a clearing that Aly vaguely remembered. She sat on a rock as George and Seb sat on a log in front of her.
"Well, when I were two my ma disappeared. After some years it was assumed that she was dead. I grew up without 'er." Aly said.
"Wow, ye never had a mother?" Seb asked, Aly just shook her head.
"What 'appened to ya pa?" George asked.
"He died," she said simply. They both looked at her expectantly, they knew that part already. She sighed, "three years ago, a few months a'fore you found me, our house burnt down. He was in it, I only escapes a'cause I had gone out ta see someone without 'im knowing." She shrugged, "so I told ye the truth, he's dead."
Seb and George nodded. "It's amazing your ma's alive," said Seb, George nodded again.
"I would always make stories where she was back with me, or of 'er still bein' alive, and trying ta get back to me an pa. That stopped when pa died, and I started looking to a different life. More so when you two came along," she said looking at them.
George got up and lifted her to her feet for a hug. "So you were yellin' at 'er a'cause you want a new life?"
"A'cause I made a new life," she said. "An' a'cause after all those years of not bein' there when I needed 'er, then showin' up when I no longer needed her aron'. I 'ad finally settled into bein' a different person." She shrugged, "but I spent the night thinkin' an' I'm gonna say sorry, but if she wants me ta stick around, I'm gonna say no."
George looked down at her, "ye sure 'bout that?" Aly nodded "Al'right then." Seb stood up and the three of them headed back to camp.
"Ye look like a mess," Seb said to Aly.
Aly looked down, her skirt was rumpled and there was dirt stains near the hem. "Well that's what 'appens when ye sleep on the ground." She said with a shrug, before picking a spider web off her shoulder. "An' walk through an abandoned 'ouse. I'll get changed before we leave camp."
Seb nodded, and then looked confused; much like George did at her statement. "Wait... we're leaving camp. Where are we goin'?"
Aly shook her head. "I 'ave to see my ma. It'd be worse ta hold off, don't ya think?"
"Oh..." said Seb stupidly, "yeah that's a good idea." Aly rolled her eyes as they walked into camp.
George and Seb went and fiddled with the gear for their performance while Aly walked to the caravan and closed the door.
Inside the caravan she closed the door and leaned against it. She in the scent of her home, the familiarity of the smells made her smile. Everything would be fine as long as she knew where her home was, and for now her home was this caravan, these people were her friends and family, even if they did fight.
Nothing could change that truth now, and she would do just about anything to keep it that way. She turned the little knob that kept the door locked when they needed it and moved away from the door. She opened the draw that held her clothes and shuffled through it with her hand.
She looked at the colours; she wanted today to be a bright day. She pulled out her red dress with bells sewed into the skirt. She smiled and nodded approvingly.
She took off her green dress and her brown cape and put them in the sack of dirty clothes belonging to the other gypsies from the caravan. It would be her turn to do the laundry soon. She put the red dress on over her short underclothes. She was lucky that it was short or she wouldn't have been able to run the night before. She pulled out a creamy gold bodice that went with the deep brown of her dress.
She looked in the small mirror the gypsies of this caravan shared and smiled, deciding she was ready. She picked up her belt she had discarded on the lower bunk, that Seb and her mainly shared, and put it around her waist, letting it sit on her hips after she buckled it.
She looked at the bunks her and Seb shared, the top and bottom ones to the left side of the caravan when you walked in, and decided that the bed needed straightening.
She quickly flicked out the sheets and fluffed the pillows, wondering who had slept in the bottom bunk that night. She ran a hand over the creases in the blankets quickly before unlocking the door and going outside to the sound of bells moving on her skirt.
She only wore this skirt on special occasions, like when one of the gypsies had a birthday. She always thought it was because of the quality of the skirt, having a tendency to forget how annoying the bells can be after a few hours. She sighed, 'too late now,' she thought and went down the little steps. Leaving the caravan door open as was the custom for some reason.
She walked over to George and Seb. Seb had started to make sure his violin was tuned, while George checked the rope to be sure it wasn't fraying. Aly sat down and started to check some of the other gear. They sat in silence for a bit, going about their chores.
Finally Seb broke the silence; "Ye look nice, she'll be happy ye did that for 'er."
Aly smiled at him hopefully, "Ya think so?" He and George nodded.
They did the rest of the chores in silence, which went for about five minutes then left camp. Well tried to.
"Aly, ye be dressed nice, what's the occasion?" Said Connia. The three stoped.
"I'm gonna see one a me ol' friends that I didn't get a chance to talk to last night." Aly said, thinking quick.
Connia smiled, "Well have fun!" she said, not thinking it was anymore than that. Aly was a mysterious girl, but she seemed to be opening up. Maybe this would be enough to stop those awful drinking habits. Connia use to think little of the girl being among the gypsies, thinking that the girl would leave them soon enough, she was an outsider. But she seemed to be a natural born gypsy, one at heart really.
She watched the three walk away, the girl was still a mystery. Turned up in one town and got nothing from her but that she was an orphan, now they find out she grew up here. Maybe, after everyone had started accepting her as one of their own, she would leave them. She sighed and went back to making sure the camp was in order.
Aly, Seb and George walked in silence. "Which way is it?" George said when they got to the gates.
"It's... uh... in a... that away direction." Aly said waving her hand across their entire view. They looked at her with raised brows, she just shrugged. "I was drunk when they took me there, and crying when I left, you really think I remember?"
Seb sighed, "This way," he said walking down one of the three streets.
"See it was in a that away, general direction I pointed." Aly said proudly, with a mock to her voice. George chuckled and Seb shook his head, making Aly grin.
They walked down one street then another, Aly trying to take a few wrong turns by accident. Finally they got to the house and walked up the steps. Then Aly began to get nervous.
Seb wrapped an arm around her shoulders for support and she smiled weakly at him. Groege gave her a kiss on the forehead, for luck, and knocked on the door. Seb let his arm drop, didn't want her mum getting any wrong idea's about their relationship.
Reg opened the door. When he saw Aly his worried look dropped and he smiled, he took her in his arms. "I thought ye wouldn't come by," he said.
"I may run away from some thin's, but not always." She said pushing his shoulder playfully. He opened the door and nodded at Seb and George. They nodded back, and Seb took Reg's hand. Aly walked in first, as Reg held the door open. Then came Seb and then came George.
Maria looked up from her mortar and pestle. Her eyes widened when she looked at her three guests. "Letti!" She cried releasing her work. She crossed the room, "I didn't think you would come by!"
Aly opened up to her mother for a hug. "I've decided, an' I understand that it weren't ye fault. Though the situation is confusin' it weren't like ye could 'ave just come back. I overreacted."
Maria tightened the hug, not wanting to let go of her daughter. "You didn't, I was just so excited, I should have told you a little more gradually." She looked at her daughter, still holding Aly's arms. Maria put a bit of hair behind Aly's ear. "Now we can settle down and be a family again. We can get the old house back an-" She cut off as Aly shook her head, and looked shocked.
Aly decided to explain herself, "I've been on the road for three years ma. It's grown on me, it's a life 'at suits me, I can't just give it up." She shrugged, "asides, I'm reminded too much of pa 'ere. It'd be too saddening."
"But, but don't you want to be a family again? ... well best we can without ye pa?" She stared hard at Aly.
Aly nodded, "but I've changed ma, I would love to be part of a family. But i kinda already found one." She glanced over her shoulder at Seb and George. "The gypsies took me in, an' 'ats where I'm gonna stay. I promise when I come through town I'll spend time with ya's," she said looking between her mum and Reg. "But the road's where I belong now."
Maria didn't seem to accept it, but she kept her mouth shut. "Well then let's spend the time we can together." Aly nodded and came and sat at the small dining table.
The table could sit six at most two on each side and one on each end. They fit well, and they'd be fine if someone turned up. "Oh, I forgot ta introduce ye all to each other. Ma this is Seb-Sebastian," She said putting a hand on Seb's shoulder, having sat between Seb and Reg.
While Reg sat next to Maria, on one end of the table. George sat on the other end of the table, across from Reg.
Maria nodded, "Yes, I met him last night."
"Oh, yeah, that's right." She said, "well anyhow, this be George."
"So how do you all know each other?" Maria asked. "You know when you were little, I use to think that one day maybe Reginald's mother and I could have seen if you would be a good match."
Aly and Reg burst out laughing. Aly's body shook with the intensity of her laughing. While Reg almost fell out of his chair. They ended up leaning on each other whipping their eyes as they tried to catch their breath.
George shook his head as he looked at Aly with a smile. Seb looked a tad shocked, "you both laugh the same!" He exclaimed in fear.
This made Aly laugh a little more, "'stead we ended up best friends, an' Seb it's cause we know each other so well."
Maria smiled, "So what happened to your father? How did you end up with the gypsies?" Aly's happiness dropped by a mile.
The smile she had been wearing gladly, and the best one she'd had since she got to Gruber, turned into a frown.
Seb put his arms around her shoulders and looked at her worriedly. "Ye two haven't heard the story either." She said looking between Seb and George. She sighed, "Reg, do ye mind hearin' the story again?" He shook his head, a small lock of blond hair falling in his eyes.
Aly was getting use to telling the story, she began as Seb brushed his hand through his hair. "Well after ye disappeared, when I were two." She said for Seb and George's information. "Pa kept a smile on, made sure to raise me proper." She lifted a hand when her mother went to interrupt, guessing what she was going to ask. "I'll get ta that," she said before continuing. "The women around town helped with a few things, but I preferred to try alone. I taught me self to sew, had only a little 'elp at learnin' ta cook. The rest I picked up watching people. I became best friends with Reg, we had a bit o' a friendship with Lilla and Joseph."
Seb drew breath to interrupt and Aly gave him a sharp look. He thought better of it and let her continue. "Reg an' I were inseparable. An' Cleo was always in tow. When I were eleven pa and I moved. We moved to Owlron, had a nice big 'ouse, two stories." She said nodding as Seb whistled in awe. "We lived there for two years, pa had given me these lockets, 'e 'ad one of his own. For memories sake 'e said, he got your one mad cause he an' I always dreamed you were still alive.
Anyway, one night I went out without tellin' 'im, I came back just afore dawn. And all I found was ashes an' debris. I found your locket and some pans and things, nothing of use. An' no pa..." She paused for a bit, thinking and trying not to let herself cry. "I made a headstone, outa some wood that was left, an' carved his name into it. Then after the sun rose... I left, I couldn't go back ta town, I dunno why... I hitched rides and walked till I reached Whenherp. That's where I tried my hand at bein' a thief.
I wasn't a bad thief, I just 'ad a tendency ta give my food to the orphans. I lasted two months there, that's where these two came in.
They found me on the edge of town, half starved and unconscious." Seb and George nodded. "They took me to the gypsies, and out of kindness the gypsies gave me food and new clothes, by the time I was strong enough to walk on my own we were over a week from Whenherp. So when they said I could keep travelling with them I took the offer. Seb kept an eye out for me, teaching me how to act like a gypsy. George would watch out for me too, he also gave me my first turn rope walkin'. Between the two of them, I learnt almost every aspect of bein' a gypsy within a month. An' all the gypsies loved Cleo. I became known as Aly, and Cleo, Cleo.
I decided to put my past behind, and forget my old dreams. Like ye being alive. But now your 'ere and I have to accept that my past is part of me, I can't leave it behind, no matter how much I hide it.
I got sick of just dancing among a group of gypsies, I wanted to pay them back fully for saving me. That's when I found out I had a gift for the ropes. George took me as his apprentice and I started doing shows with him. After a while they found out I was popular, so I started doing shows on me own, with Cleo when she feels like it. Seb started being my partner in show, he does my music." She explained to her mother, "an' that's about how it all happened." She said with a shrug.
"So you walk on the ropes?" Said Maria rhetorically.
"Yeah..." Said Aly hesitantly.
"Which are you?" Maria asked this time.
"Wind Whisper" Said Seb.
"WHAT!" Maria cried. "Are you aware of how dangerous rope walking is? Let alone the tricks you do?"
"Yeah I do ma, and it's a little less dangerous then doing those tricks while running from the law when ye are a thief." Aly said getting aggravated. "Besides the only time I fall is in practice when Im learning new tricks, and even then it is but a meter fall and Seb or George catch me. So lay off it ma!"
"She's very good at it, better 'en most, and she 'as only been 'urt in practice a few times." Said George, trying to give Aly time to collect herself.
Maria looked sharply at George, not something you would usually do to someone you had just met, and bit her lip to hold back a retort. "I'm sorry, its just after all these years of not being able to see you I don't want to have you get hurt. I suppose Im being over protective."
Aly sighed, why did she get so angry so quick? Well it did feel like her mother had been questioning her ability. "No, ye have every right ta be worried. Once ye get use to it ye wont worry as much."
Maria nodded slowly and stood up. "Anyone want some tea?" She said moving to boil some water.
"Sure," said Aly, Seb and Reg as one.
George chuckled and nodded his head.
The water was boiled and the tea was poured, then the chatter started. Talking about past experiences with one another. Most of this was done by Aly, Seb and Reg. Maria hardly ever put in a word, and anything George said made everyone aware of how proud he was of Aly.
They talked long into the day, when lunch came around George and Reg slipped down to the shops and came back with food and two more for the get together.
Lil and Joseph settled in quick. But getting either Lil or Seb to say much in each other was a challenge that Aly loved, and laughed over.